How to Get a Felony Expunged in Illinois

If you’ve been charged or convicted of a felony in Illinois, you may already know how severely those charges can affect your future. You may still be paying off the financial penalties, which is tough when your criminal record can prevent you from getting a good job or housing. 

Dealing with these severe penalties can feel impossible, but you have opportunities to act now and seek an expungement. That way, you don’t have to continue facing the consequences years after you’ve paid your due. 

But you may not know how to get a felony expunged in Illinois. The good news is, you don’t have to seek expungement on your own. Your Illinois expungement lawyer can help. 

Expungement vs. Sealing Records 

The problem with many felony convictions is that you may not be able to expunge them—but you may have grounds to seal them. But what’s the difference between expungement and sealing, and will it make a difference to your future? 

In both cases, the records will be invisible to the public. If your felony charges have affected your ability to get housing and employment, both options can help you avoid continued losses because of this. 

The difference between the two is that expungement requires your record be destroyed. You should be treated as though you were never tried or convicted in these cases. Sealing your record means that while the police will still keep those records, they won’t be accessible to the public. That may affect you if you’re arrested again, but it can still protect your job and your future. 

Getting a Felony Expunged

Expungement can be complicated because not everyone is eligible for expungement. Usually, expungement is only offered to certain types of offenses and situations. 

For example, you may have been convicted of a Class 4 felony. You may have a chance to seal your records, but only after a three-year waiting period has passed following your sentence. While you can still seal your case, you may have specific rules that will affect when and how you can have your record sealed. 

Certain types of cases may not be expunged or sealed. For example, sexual offenses against a child usually disqualify you from having your record expunged or sealed. If you’re concerned about your Illinois expungement case and you’re not sure you’re eligible, talk to your expungement lawyer about your case and what you can do to seek expungement. 

Talk It Over with an Illinois Expungement Lawyer 

When you’re accused of a criminal offense, it can hurt your future for years to come. Worse, you may not have the tools or resources to be sure what you can do about your situation. You may have struggled to deal with the consequences of your conviction for years after the trial ended. 

You may not have to worry about that anymore. Your lawyer at Chicago Trusted Attorneys™ knows how to get a felony expunged in Illinois, and we may be able to help you get your case expunged or sealed. If your criminal record is affecting your life, reach out for help during a consultation with your Illinois expungement attorney. Call 312-519-3171 or fill out the online contact form below to learn more.